As the 8 exclamation marks might suggest, its an over the top anime that mostly focuses on the sport or the echi in it. Speaking of which, this show is no Haikyuu!! with its action intensity that will make you go out and play volleyball, nor Kiss x Sis with its lewd intensity that will make you go fu...
never mind that.
The show follows a girl with the name Kaminashi that starts training at a camp to be the best at Keijo and achieve her dream of being a professional. Later on it is revealed that there's a rivalry between two schools, one of which is Nozomi's. She is set to defend her school's pride and show what she is capable of with the friends she has made throughout the way. As you can see, the plot isn't original at the very least (a plot that can be put on any sports anime and it will probably work), but that is not the strong side of the show.
The show shines with how beautiful the sceneries and characters look. While having a lot of action scenes, which suggests a lot of frames needed for them to look good, none of the budget was spared in that aspect.
While the music isn't something extraordinary and most of the time you could barely notice it, it does its job fine and doesn't distract you from the anime itself. One thing to note is the music in the opening. For the whole 12-episode run I was not able to make myself skip it even once because of how fitting it is and sets you in the mood of watching some girl-on-girl action on a water platform (yes, music is capable of such things).
While the opening hypes you up, you start to wonder what the characters are like. And to your belief, they aren't as flat as you would guess from an ecchi that its sole purpose is to show girls bash their butts towards one another. Throughout the series, you sense that the characters have changed at least a bit after every battle they have and they learn a lot with the help of their friends. There's something unique in each character's design and personality that mixes well when we take into account their goals/past. For example Miyata, Kaminashi's first friend and rival, wants to prove to everyone that she has made the right choice of pursuing keijo after abandoning training judo under her father's guidance, but her complex about her bosom size is a hindrance, while simultaneously a boost when she decides to encourage that side of hers.
Now, onto the most important part: the enjoyment you will/might receive whilst watching the show. As you could have guessed by now, keijo will not make you see the world through a new pair of eyes, it could certainly make you do that through laughter. To fully enjoy it, your brain should definitely be turned off and just expect anything to happen and a good time is promised. How will you not laugh or question what even is happening if quotes like "...you must take your butt to the absolute limit" or "...she's called ass-eater Nanase at school!" are thrown nonchalantly every possible moment? Another thing is the name of some of the attacks. I swear, the creative department should've gotten a raise after inventing such classic techniques such as "hypno tits","assteroid afterglow","tit-fang attack" and most importantly "vacuum butt cannon".
All in all, the anime is good enough for me to recommend it while having one thing in mind: don't overthink what is happening, just accept it at it is.
While it is not a masterpiece by any stretch or would it be remember as a classic in the not so distant future, Keijo could definitely fill your spare time and have a great one.
As for recommendations, there are three routes to take, each depending on what you liked in the anime:
-sports route- if you liked what you saw but wondered what it would be like, but with boys and with less action, the same season that brought Keijo brings you Yuri on Ice as well.
-over the top action route- There was no way to put this here after watching the last episode, but Kill la Kill. The final battle itself is a reference to Kill la Kill
-ecchi- there are far more 'ecchier' anime than Keijo, but I will give it props for not being the entire focus of the anime, just a way to catch the viewers eye. If you want 'true' ecchi, try Highschool DxD on for size!
